Water-closet seat



Aug- 8, 1939 H. c. LESLIE 2,168,907

wATER-cLosET SEAT Filed Jan. 2o, 193e Patented` Aug. 8, 14939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE WATER-CLD SET SEAT Application January 20, 1938,Serial No. 185,875

6 Claims.

This invention relates to toilet seats and more particularly towater-closet seats of the type having an open front and recessed rear,commonly referred to in the trade as open front and back.

ln the manufacture of water-closet seats of the type illustrated inUnited States Patent No. 1,163,111 considerable diiculty has beenencountered in providing the requisite degree of strength and rigiditywithout resorting to the use o i exposed reinforcing members which notonly detract from the appearance of the seat but also provide crevicesand irregularities which render the structure unsanitary after arelatively short period of use. Although numerous attempts have beenmade to eliminate exposed reinforcing elements, such attempts haveusually involved the sacrice of strength, rigidity and durability.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a sanitarywater-closet seat of the aforementioned type which is ofstrong anddurable construction and which can be manufactured more economicallythan the prior types `of similar design; lto provide a water-closet seathaving an unbroken surface and a minimum area, which may be easilycleaned, and hence more readily maintained in a sanitary condition; andlto provide an improved mounting for pivotvallyT supporting the seat.

Further objects willbe apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

V Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a water-closet seat constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the rear of the seatshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the seat `supporting structure; Y NFig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan View showing the seat with a coverpivotally supported thereto; "'Fig. U5 is afragmentaryside elevation ofthe seat and cover shown in Fig. fi;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of hinge connection for the seat;

Fig. 7 is la section illustrating one form of conn-ection'ior the cover;Y

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail illustrating the manner of securing thefastening means constituting part of the connection illustratedin Fig.7; and Fig. 9 is a section illustrating another form of connection forthe cover.

The embodiment shownin Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a pair of laterally spacedarcuate sections 2. each formed with smoothly rounded upa modiiied typeoi per surfaces, the rear of the sections being formed with an extendedback having inwardly facing flat ends 3 and 4, provided withtransversely extending aligned bores or openings 5 and 6, the outer endsof which terminate in enlarged openings 'I and 8 (Fig. 3). The sectionsI and 2 may be of wood, metal, a moldable composition, a metal or woodencore with a molded surface, or the like construction capable ofproviding the requisite degree of rigidity.

The rear ends of the sections are rigidly connected by an interposedU-shaped member Ill, whose legs II and I2 are provided withscrewthreaded elements I5 and I6 (Fig. 2) which are embedded in the bodyportion of the sections I and 2, respectively. The closed end IB of theU-shaped member is formed with an opening I9 disposed in alignment withthe openings 5 and 6 so as to provide a continuous passage from oneedge-of the seat to the other. The central part of the opening I9 is ofsquare cross section, whereas the remainder oi the opening is preferablyof the same size or diameter as the openings 5 and 6.

The member I is shaped to conform with the contour of the sections I and2, and accordingly -the router face of the legs II and I2 are flat solas to lt against the adjacent ends of sections I and 2, and the innerfaces of the legs are provided with smoothly rounded surfaces toproduce, in eiect, substantial continuity with the surfaces of thesections I and 2.

Mounted in the openings and 6 are sleeves 2D `which extend into theopening I9 of the U- shaped member I0. The inner ends of the sleeves areof square cross section to fit the central part of the opening I9, andtheir outer ends are provided with annular anges 22 which are formedwith approximately semi-circular ribs 23 (Fig. 2), the anges and ribssnugly tting within the enlarged openings 'I and 8, as shown in Figs. 2and 3. Oneor both of the inner ends of the sleeves 20 may bescrewthreaded to receive the screw 24 (Fig. 3) which holds the adjacent endsof the sleeves together, thus providing an addiv may be provided. In anycase the integument 25 completely encases the sections and U-shapedmember I and is so formed and applied as to produce a smooth, continuoussurface, free from crevices and irregularities. Where, as is preicrred,a tight-fitting, heavy sheet of Celluloid or the like is applied aboutthe assemblage, it cooperates with the fastening elements and sleeves2!) to enhance the strength and rigidity of the entire structure.

The seat is pivotally supported by a pair of posts 33, the lower ends ofwhich may be secured to the bowl o1' a part of the ilushing tank. Eachof the posts is formed with a head 3| integral with a laterallyextending pintle 32 which ts into the bore of the adjacent sleeve 20.The inner end of each of the pintles is formed integral with a radialprojection or stud 34 (Fig. 2) which is arranged to engage one end ofthe adjacent rib 23 when the seat is swung to upstanding position,thereby to provide a stop adapted to hold the seat in an uprightposition. The parts are so designed that with the exception of the bodyportions and heads of the posts 30, they are concealed within thesections I, 2 and the U-shaped member I0, and as the heads 3l closelylit against the ends of the sections, all gaps and crevices areeliminated.

In order to avoid wear about the marginal portions of the extended backwhich surround the openings 1 and 8 and also to eliminate looseness orlateral play, the ends of the studs 34 engage the collars 22 so as toprovide a slight clearance between the inner faces of heads 3| and themarginal portions about openings 1 and 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Figs. 4 to 9 I have shown a seat having substantially the sameconstruction as above described, but provided with a cover 40 which ispivoted to the posts 36a which pivotally support the seat. In thisembodiment each of the heads 3 la (Fig. 6) of the post 3i)a is formedwith an opening through which a pintle 42 extends, the inner end of eachpintle being disposed in the bore of the sleeve 2E)a and its outer endbeing integral with a link 44. Each of the links is formed with a pairof spaced lateral projections 45 and 46 (Figs. 7 and 9), the projections45 having either an interiorly-threaded opening, as shown in Fig. 7, ora continuous opening extending to the outer face of the link, as shownin Fig. 9.

The end portion of the cover 40 may be provided with a transverse bore48 (Fig. 8) having enlarged outer ends to receive the projections 45,and on each edge of the cover there is provided an opening 49 to receivethe projections 46. Rods 50 carried by the projections 45 extend intothe bore G8, the free end of each rod preferably being pointed, as shownin Fig. 8. When the parts are assembled in the manner illustrated, thefree ends of the rod 5B abut, and by passing a welding currenttherethrough, they may be welded together, as indicated at 52 (Fig. 7),thus permanently securing the parts in assembled relation. If desired,the rods 553 may be dispensed with, and, as above noted, the projections45 may be bored to receive screws or the like fastening elements 54(Fig. 9), in which case the bore 48 in the cover is also dispensed with.It will be noted that in either case the links, being permanentlysecured to the covers, hold the posts 36a and associated parts inoperative position for supporting the seat. Accordingly, the entireassemblage provides a unit which may be readily secured either to thebowl, the iiushing tank, a part of a unit bowl and tank,

or to the adjacent wall, in the same manner as the embodiment previouslydescribed.

While I have shown and described different desirable embodiments of theinvention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for thepurpose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportionand arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalentelements for those herein shown and described, may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

l. A toilet seat having an open front and a recessed rear, said seatcomprising a pair of laterally spaced arcuate sections, a U-shapedmember interposed between adjacent rear ends of said sections to denesaid recessed rear, the legs of said U-shaped member having fasteningelements embedded in the body portions of said sections and beingrigidly secured thereto and an integument completely enveloping saidsections and U-shaped member and providing a smooth continuous surfacefree from crevices and irregularities.

2. A toilet seat having an open front and a recessed rear, said seatcomprising a pair of laterally spaced arcuate sections, the rear ends ofsaid sections having transversely extending openings, a U-shaped memberinterposed between the rear ends to define said recessed rear, the legsof said U-shaped member having fastening elements embedded in the bodyportions of said sections and being rigidly secured thereto, a hingehaving parts disposed in said openings and pivotally supporting saidseat, and an integument completely enveloping said sections and U-shapedmember and providing a smooth continuous surface free from crevices andirregularities.

3. A toilet seat having an open front and a recessed rear, said seatcomprising a pair of laterally spaced arcuate sections, the rear ends ofsaid sections having aligned transversely extending openings, a U-shapedmember interposed between and rigidly secured to the rear ends of saidsections between said openings and dening said recessed rear, the closedend of said U-shaped member having a transverse opening in alignmentwith the openings in said sections, a hinge having parts fitting withinthe openings in said sections and U-shaped member for pivotallysupporting said seat, and an integument completely enveloping saidsections and U-shaped member and providing a smooth continuous surfacefree from crevices and irregularities.

4. A toilet seat having an open front and a recessed rear, said seatcomprising a pair of laterally spaced arcuate sections, a U-shapedmember interposed between the rear ends of said sections to define saidrecessed rear, said U-shaped member having legs tting against the rearends of said sections, said legs having fastening elements imbedded inthe body portion of said sections, and an integument completelyenveloping said sections and U-shaped member and providing a smoothcontinuous surface free from crevices and irregularities.

5. A toilet'seat having an open front and a recessed rear, said seatcomprising a pair of laterally spaced arcuate sections, the rear ends ofsaid sections having aligned transversely extending openings, a U-shapedmember interposed between the rear ends of said sections to define saidrecessed rear, theA legs of said U-shaped member fitting against therear ends of said sections, said legs having screw threaded elementsembedded in the body portions of said sections, the closed end of saidU-shaped member having a transverse opening in alignment with theopenings in said sections, a hinge having parts tting Within theopenings in said sections and U-shaped member for pivotally supportingsaid seat, and an integument completely enveloping said sections and U-shaped member and providing a smooth continuous surface free fromcrevices and irregularities.

6. A Water-closet seat having an open front and recessed back comprisinga pair of laterally spaced arcuate members having rear end portionsdening an extended back section provided With aligned transverselyextending openings, and means for rigidly securing said sectionstogether, said means comprising a U-shaped member dening said recessedback and having legs tting' against and secured to the rear ends of saidsections, the intermediate portion of said U-shaped member having anopening aligned with those in said rear end portions, tubular elementshaving parts disposed Within said openings and means for securingadjacent ends of said tubular ele- 10 ments together.

HOWARD C. LESLIE.

